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The Felse Investigations #11
Death to the Landlords
Dominic Felse and the Swami Premanathanand, a man of peace, unravel a deadly Indian rope trick of hatred and murder when they try to discover who is behind the violent deaths of several landlords.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
109 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Ellis Peters
208 books1,148 followersA pseudonym used by Edith Pargeter.
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands.
During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.
Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands.
During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.
Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 28, 2020
Though I enjoy the supporting cast of characters, I find the later Dominic books a bit thin on character development of both Dominic and Tosa. This story seems more adventure/ plot driven. Additionally, though Peters is clearly respectful of Indian culture and writes vividly of the settings and people, I find myself missing the Shropshire base of the Felse family that she knows so intimately. The setting in India feels more cinematic and less authentic to me. And finally, there is a left leaning mentality in Death to the Landlords. Part of it is the anti-God sentiment that the really enlightened have moved beyond Christianity. Part of it is the idea that the landlords *are* somewhat deserving of mob justice.
And yet, Peters does a wonderful job of making things not what they seem at first glance, as people of various beliefs try to influence people and events to score power points for their political philosophy through murder. That’s what makes this installment of the series sing. Which side is each person *really* on and whose interests do they *think* they are advancing? Peters does not box her characters into this war, and the characters demanding justice for all, Dominic among them, eventually win out. Not my favorite of the series, but still solid writing.
There’s more!
City of Gold and Shadows (Felse Family Investigations #12), Peters, 1973
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And yet, Peters does a wonderful job of making things not what they seem at first glance, as people of various beliefs try to influence people and events to score power points for their political philosophy through murder. That’s what makes this installment of the series sing. Which side is each person *really* on and whose interests do they *think* they are advancing? Peters does not box her characters into this war, and the characters demanding justice for all, Dominic among them, eventually win out. Not my favorite of the series, but still solid writing.
There’s more!
City of Gold and Shadows (Felse Family Investigations #12), Peters, 1973
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 26, 2021
A very good read as are all the Felse Investigations. Some surprising twists in the plot.
June 6, 2025
Description of scenic places, scenes, characters, lives, the times...top notch! I love her books!
This one would have tested credulity except for the time when it was written assassinations were happening, in one horrific way or another, all over the world...the reasons were known only by the assassins themselves...as in this story.
It was hard to accept who and why one of the assassins was involved at all and anger for one's previous sympathy for them was so misplaced...I think I figured out the first one first and was convinced the characters were naive and placed their trust and their shekels in the wrong hands but surely, I was shocked about the second ine.
Mysteries should be written to keep the readers in susoense...her books always do and it builds, the suspense, I mean as the book progresses...the end is mostly a sypurprise.
This writer is a Mistress of the highest order inner plotting, her settings, the descriptions of faces and people and scenery are brikkiant.
Wish she would have spent more time on the main characters so we could know then better...though in any book, even the best of them, you cannot have absolutely everything!
I love her books and highly recommend them.
Get ready for erudite writing and sophisticated vocabulary and settings. I like a real challenge in both...so I am learning w hike I an reading and looking up references as I go along...sometimes I feel uneducated and stupid...ah, well...UT is well worth it!
This one would have tested credulity except for the time when it was written assassinations were happening, in one horrific way or another, all over the world...the reasons were known only by the assassins themselves...as in this story.
It was hard to accept who and why one of the assassins was involved at all and anger for one's previous sympathy for them was so misplaced...I think I figured out the first one first and was convinced the characters were naive and placed their trust and their shekels in the wrong hands but surely, I was shocked about the second ine.
Mysteries should be written to keep the readers in susoense...her books always do and it builds, the suspense, I mean as the book progresses...the end is mostly a sypurprise.
This writer is a Mistress of the highest order inner plotting, her settings, the descriptions of faces and people and scenery are brikkiant.
Wish she would have spent more time on the main characters so we could know then better...though in any book, even the best of them, you cannot have absolutely everything!
I love her books and highly recommend them.
Get ready for erudite writing and sophisticated vocabulary and settings. I like a real challenge in both...so I am learning w hike I an reading and looking up references as I go along...sometimes I feel uneducated and stupid...ah, well...UT is well worth it!
June 13, 2020
3.5 stars. Although this is a fascinating and intriguing mystery featuring Dominic Felse, I missed both George Felse and Tossa Barber. Dominic is back in India, working for the Swami on improving life for common people, often by helping them form cooperatives. But, for now, he is on vacation, along with an American, Larry, and their guide, Lakshman. As they tour southern India, their path frequently crosses that of the same two couples, one French, the other Indian. And then they meet a pair of girls, English Patti and her Indian friend Priya, and the mystery begins. A mystery that could only be set in India, it is hard to put down. Recommended.
July 19, 2025
Dominic Felse is on vacation in India. He joins up with another young man and a pair of girls. There are also several couples that they keep running into. They are enjoying a wildlife refuge and lake. But then a wealthy landowner is killed by a bomb on his boat. It apears that terrorists are out to kill the landowners. Can Dom and the local police find the culprit and prevent further deaths? This is an India that is trying to find itself after British rule - and Dom and his friends are gracious about both the good and bad. In the end, there is an unexpected culprit - but Peters is able to critique the New Left movement of the 70s & 80s.
May 30, 2019
I am a big Ellis Peters fan, but so far I've only read her Brother Cadfael series. And as that's one of my favourite series of all time, I thought let's try this one!
The formula is basically the same, a man who is not a defective gets involved in a murder case and helps solving it, there is also a romantic story in the background that we all wish works out well, but has some difficulties.
However, this is set in India, and written with beautiful detail of the country. The suspense is good as always, so a nice defective read that keeps you hooked.
The formula is basically the same, a man who is not a defective gets involved in a murder case and helps solving it, there is also a romantic story in the background that we all wish works out well, but has some difficulties.
However, this is set in India, and written with beautiful detail of the country. The suspense is good as always, so a nice defective read that keeps you hooked.
September 16, 2020
With any of Ellis Peters books, one is given a history lesson which is the added gift of her writing. This particular story is placed in India after the British have given up control of their rule of the country. The story line was fascinating, but more so was the explanation of all the currents of philosophies the country was experiencing at that time and their struggles to find their proper footing in self-rule. It provided much more than a good mystery as it gave an insight into a time which is not covered in the history books.
November 28, 2021
Complex plot and vivid landscapes, drawn utilizing the full range of the English language, as always with Ellis Peters. The characters speak in language very much of their time, as in the Felse mysteries I've previously read (very distinct from the voices of Cadfael characters, even if their worldviews are suspiciously similar). I predicted something about the conclusion, but she has me convinced for a bit that I was wrong...
January 22, 2018
Excellent! Ellis Peters mysteries never disappoint me. This is number 11 in the Felse series, featuring Domenic, the son of the police inspector, in India where a terrorist bomber is stalking his travel party. Suspects are plentiful, leaving the reader to suspect everyone and trust nobody.
February 27, 2018
Oei! Oei! Niet te geloven dat dit dezelfde schrijfster is van de Cadfaël-boeken. Mist alle diepgang en alle geloofwaardigheid. En zeggen dat "de hemelboom" van Ellis Peters lang in mijn top 5 heeft gestaan. Waarmee bewezen is, elke goede schrijver kan ook rommel produceren.
July 9, 2018
Attitudes expressed are a bit old fashioned (published 1972, and it hasn’t really held up). Some of the plot twists were a bit obvious and a lot of the clues were revealed in dialogue explication. The final denouement also a bit dues ex machine.
May 17, 2017
Very enjoyable especially the descriptions of India. Good thriller.
April 8, 2018
Dominic Felse, on holiday in India, finds himself involved in a murder enquiry. A whole new set of characters beautifully described, as usual.
October 14, 2019
For once I figured out part of the plot and sussed out who a murderer was. I enjoy these books a lot.
November 24, 2021
This is my first time reading the later books in this series, and while Dominic Felse is likeable, I miss his father George and the English village setting of the earlier books.
September 15, 2024
Back to India with another adventure with Dominic ... I prefer the Felses' adventures set in the English Midlands, but I'm willing to go elsewhere with Peters.
August 12, 2025
Great writing. Good mystery. Many twists and turns.
September 16, 2024
I do like Ellis Peters' writing. I find the Cadfael Chronicles do get tedious after a while, but to dip into occasionally, she does very well. If only the library agreed with me...
March 3, 2011
The second India book. I liked it less, mostly because Tossa was mentioned once, 3/4 of the way through the book, and so I spent most of it worrying that Something Had Happened. Also, as with all the Felse books not set in Shrewsbury, I missed Peters' exquisite descriptions of that area. [Feb. 2011]
August 25, 2023
2023 Series Re-read: The blend of mystery-thriller and travelogue is just to my taste. Kerala & Tamil Nadu are evocatively described. This is a nostalgic favorite amongst an overall superb series; wish there had been a third in the India-set books.
August 7, 2015
Rating this one three stars mostly because the culprits were glaringly obvious from the start. Loved the atmosphere, though, and Dominic's quiet calm. I do seem to prefer the books featuring George to Dominic, but Dominic in this one seems finally to have grown into his own skin.
July 14, 2016
Ellis Peters has a delightful descriptive style which brings characters and settings alive. As a reader, you feel like you are right there in India with young Dominic as the plot unfolds in a rather surprising way. Good read!
December 20, 2016
Scratching my head further -- another story set in India, involving only Dominic.... a good story, but a bit thinner than the usual 'George Felse' mysteries.
December 25, 2016
Dominic in India. Peters clearly spent some time in India.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews